All posts tagged Brent Amaker & the Rodeo

Seattle western (not country, thank you) singer Brent Amaker has long had a fascination with graphic novels: the deluxe version of “Please Stand By,” his 2010 album with the Rodeo, came with “Mescal de la Muerte,” a comic book depicting him and his bandmates as superheroes battling demonic Mexican wrestlers.

Amaker goes one better on his new album, “Year of the Dragon,” which features a cover designed by noted Japanese graphic artist Takashi Okazaki, creator of the “Afro Samurai” anime series featuring the voice of Samuel L. Jackson. Amaker discovered Okazaki’s work through “Afro Samurai,” and a mutual friend put him in touch with Okazaki himself. When Amaker sent the artist some of his new songs, Okazaki — Bob, to his English-speaking friends — offered to help with the artwork.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to collaborate with such an incredible artist,” said Amaker, whose songs sound like soundtrack entries for imaginary westerns. “I’ve always had plans of taking the Rodeo on tour in Japan, but I never dreamt that I might be able to collaborate with someone like Takashi Okazaki on a project. His work in the ‘Afro Samurai’ series is dark, gritty, beautiful and loaded with references to the Wild West. Our music could be a soundtrack for that imagery.”

Hear for yourself: Speakeasy today premieres “Death Is Always Near” from “Year of the Dragon,” which comes out June 4 on Fin Records. Listen after the jump. Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.